Karbonius Carbon Fibre Stock S54 Plenum

[heinzboehmer]

Not going to add anything of substance really with my comment, but I just wanted to say this is awesome. I'm sure everyone involved appreciates the communication and transparency. Karbonius created an entirely new product just to see how it turned out because some people on the internet were interested and that makes them seem even cooler to me than they already did.

I'm glad it actually worked. This + an eventuri might be the ultimate MAF setup. Also interesting to see the flexing of the carbon with the more restrictive intake path (compared to CSL).

[///MBan]

Karbonius has test-fitted the plenum and made a video, as well as videos of the same car with a completely stock intake and the same car with their CSL-style intake. I've posted the videos below. Karbonius are on holiday until 30 August but provided a few comments when they sent me the videos:

"I just sent you 3 videos,
1- OEM airbox, you can see the results in dB , minimum 72,2 and maximum at 5000 rpm 106 dB
2- CSL airbox , minimum 79 , maximum at 5000 rpm 130.2 dB
3 -Karbonius OEM style airbox, minimum 74,3 , maximum at 5000 rpm 118,7 db.

Sorry for the quality of the video, maybe doesn't´do justice comparing with real sound, but I think you can hear the difference between the 3 boxes.
We have 2 dB more in the low measure and +12,7 dB in the revolutioned measurement . The Karbonius OEm style airbox is not as louder as the CSL airbox, but clearly louder than the OEM one.
We checked on the car and drove few kilometers, and we could hear clear the sound of the box, specially between 2500 to 4000 rpm, driving at few rpm and putting gas in 4th or 5th gear is easy to heard."

I also asked a couple of questions:
Q. Will the price be the same as originally estimated (1,200 euro)?
A. Yes , at the moment we will keep the price, but I´ll confirm you when we will make the 2nd unit!

Q. How long will it take to put into production?
A. We can start the production in middle of September

Videos:
Karbonius carbon fibre S54 plenum
https://youtube.com/shorts/NtCRPz1705A?feature=share

Karbonius CSL-style intake
https://youtube.com/shorts/D8S_IVLXTEc?feature=share

OEM
https://youtube.com/shorts/LV8jRFmXMyg?feature=share

[Carbon.dre]

makes sense just curious now on the power figures

[terra]

Sucks because its a PITA to go MAP and the cost is basically a flex for 40hp. which makes me wonder why not use what they have and develop around a maf to see the results from testing

Because it's really not that much of a pain, and in the case of the Z4M going straight "alpha N" is more viable since those have wideband O2s.

[Carbon.dre]

There's a german one around, it's been sold for I guess 10 years now? It's pricey and most people seem to talk shit about it so never looked into it.

Most of the info was on m3forum and is now gone anyway.

Sucks because its a PITA to go MAP and the cost is basically a flex for 40hp. which makes me wonder why not use what they have and develop around a maf to see the results from testing

[E46 M3]

Why not just make a CSL MAF version? And use the race mold. It seems more simple since they already have those molds.

There's a german one around, it's been sold for I guess 10 years now? It's pricey and most people seem to talk shit about it so never looked into it.

Most of the info was on m3forum and is now gone anyway.

[maupineda]

Why not just make a CSL MAF version? And use the race mold. It seems more simple since they already have those molds.

No quite, MAF would not work on an aperture that big, and the box needs to be air tight between the MAF and the ITBs. That is why it has not been done already, and this is pretty much it!

[Carbon.dre]

Why not just make a CSL MAF version? And use the race mold. It seems more simple since they already have those molds.

[jet_dogg]

Let him think the airbox doesn't make power.

[heinzboehmer]

Not sure the CSL box add much though... Ive seen multiple CSLs dynode and pull less than stock M3s - so it clearly doesn't do much.
This box with an Venturi on the end would be interesting - but the price is too comparable to the 'real deal'. Guess it's appealing to smog places though.
Looks nice regardless.
Post 4 way sound test! (Eventuri, CSL, stock, this)

It definitely does make a difference.

My car dynoed 16 whp more with just the airbox and a stock CSL tune and 25 whp more with the airbox and an off the shelf PCS tune:

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/main-forum/e46-2001-2006/1925-s54-dyno-database?p=126356#post126356

[Casa de Mesa]

Wow, looks pretty stellar. Karb is always top notch. Can't wait to see this continue to unfold!

[Epoustouflant]

Not sure the CSL box add much though... Ive seen multiple CSLs dynode and pull less than stock M3s - so it clearly doesn't do much.
This box with an Venturi on the end would be interesting - but the price is too comparable to the 'real deal'. Guess it's appealing to smog places though.
Looks nice regardless.
Post 4 way sound test! (Eventuri, CSL, stock, this)

It’s also very appealing to MSS54 non HP guys. The cost for a CSL airbox approaches 4K USD without installation costs when you consider all that is needed.

[mtech9]

Not sure the CSL box add much though... Ive seen multiple CSLs dynode and pull less than stock M3s - so it clearly doesn't do much.
This box with an Venturi on the end would be interesting - but the price is too comparable to the 'real deal'. Guess it's appealing to smog places though.
Looks nice regardless.
Post 4 way sound test! (Eventuri, CSL, stock, this)

[Epoustouflant]

The prototype is now finished and Karbonius have provided new pictures. Fitment and sound to be tested next week.

They need to add an intake to this!

As always with Karbonius, beautiful craftsmanship.

[maupineda]

I think there maybe be some performance gain, the CSL box shape supposedly flows better as it skips muffling requirements the stock box maybe subject to.

you have MAF to compensate for flow variations and you can stick an EVENTURI for more sound and perhaps a bit more air and power?

i hope this makes it to the products shelf, ready to get one.